Category Archives: Episode VIII

Oscar Isaac on ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’

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Via Latimes.com:

From the moment it was announced Rian Johnson would be directing “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” fans have been excitedly wondering what kind of special sauce the director of genre-bending films like “Looper” and “Brick” (not to mention a few of the best episodes of “Breaking Bad”) will bring to the universe George Lucas created.

Speaking with The Times last year, Lawrence Kasdan – the co-writer of “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Return of the Jedi,” “The Force Awakens” and one of the key keepers of the “Star Wars” flame – suggested that Johnson would be taking the franchise into heretofore uncharted creative territory.

“Rian Johnson is a friend of mine — he’s going to make some weird thing,” Kasdan said. “If you’ve seen Rian’s work, you know it’s not going be like anything that’s ever been in ‘Star Wars.’ “

Now, in an interview with The Times to promote the upcoming superhero epic “X-Men: Apocalyse,” opening May 27, actor Oscar Isaac – who played ace Resistance starfighter pilot Poe Dameron in “The Force Awakens” and will reprise the role in the series’ next installment – is confirming that Johnson will indeed shake things up in “Episode VIII.”

“I would agree with [Kasdan],” said Isaac. “Rian is definitely going to places and investigating things that haven’t really been done in the ‘Star Wars’ universe. For me, it’s so fun getting to explore different things that I wouldn’t have expected in this universe.

“In some ways it feels like we’re making an independent film,” added the actor, who has starred in critically acclaimed indies such as “Ex Machina,” “A Most Violent Year” and “Inside Llewyn Davis.” “Certain things we get to play with – this kind of intimacy that we get to find – it’s special. It’s been really fun.”

With production on “Episode VIII” currently underway in England, virtually nothing – not even so much as a title – has been revealed at this point about the film. About the only thing Johnson himself has said, in an answer to a fan on Twitter, is that BB-8 will be back in the film. (“Man, you’d have to admire my cojones if he wasn’t,” he joked.)

For now, if “Star Wars” fans want a better idea of what Kasdan and Isaac mean by a weirder, more intimate and indie-flavored “Star Wars,” patience they must have.

Andy Serkis Hasn’t Seen A Script For Star Wars VIII

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Via Bbc.co.uk:
Star Wars Episode VIII has already started filming.
But one of the stars of the film still hasn’t seen a script.
Andy Serkis plays Supreme Leader Snoke, a mysterious and disfigured character, in Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
He revealed that even though he is due to join production soon he hasn’t been given a copy of the film’s script.
The actor was speaking at the Empire Awards on Sunday.
When questioned about the secrecy around the film his wife Lorraine Ashbourne said “I don’t get to know anything, he doesn’t tell me a thing.”
Andy replied “Well that’s because I don’t know anything…. I’m due to be filming and I haven’t even seen the script yet.”
Disney has gone to great lengths to prevent spoilers being leaked; they reportedly used drones to stop unauthorised photographers getting near filming in Croatia.

Star Wars VII picked up 5 prizes at the awards, including best sci-fi/fantasy and best director for JJ Abrams.
Lead characters John Boyega and Daisy Ridley won best male and female newcomer respectively.
Daisy was also vague when asked about episode VIII, revealing only that filming was “very good”.
Accepting her award Daisy said, “What an incredible time to be a woman in film. I’m very honoured to be part of this amazing category amongst these brilliant women I stand next to.”
Star Wars Episode VII has been praised for its strong female lead character.

Anthony Daniels (C-3P0) was also at the awards. He said “I think people were worried that when Disney took over the whole thing that it would be Mickey Moused and it was so far from that. It’s become a huge feather in their cap”.
Episode VIII is being directed by Rian Johnson and is currently due for release in December 2017.
Principal photography began at Pinewood Studios in London in February.

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Star Wars: Episode VIII Will Be a Lot Less Secretive Than The Force Awakens

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Via io9.com:

J.J. Abrams’ approach to the marketing of The Force Awakens was simply the latest evolution of his “mystery box” style of teasing—as minimal and overtly mysterious as possible, with scant information eked out in dribs and drabs. If it annoyed you, I have good news: Episode VIII will be a bit more open.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the movie, Daisy Ridley revealed that director Rian Johnson wants to be “cheeky” with what comes out about the film:

It’s still very lovely and warm and friendly, just like seven was. I think Rian actually wants to be a bit cheekier with the little tidbits of information that come out…

…You can see, even with the way Mark and Carrie posted pictures with their chairs, it’s a little bit freer.

This is perhaps no surprise, considering that already we know the film is shooting under the production name of “Space Bear” thanks to tweets from Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill from the set. Or because we’ve already seen footage from the movie, amazingly, as part of a teaser video that announced production, released with no particular fanfare.

Compare that to The Force Awakens’ laser-focused marketing campaign and the absurd lengths the cast and crew went to to avoid putting whatever they could out there (the first we officially saw of The Force Awakens came hidden out of context in the background of charity videos, or cryptic tweets about the Apple watch). Everything was a mystery, wrapped inside another mystery, and then packed inside a padlock-sealed mystery box and liberally sprinkled with a bit more mystery for good measure.

Following the same plan for Episode VIII would’ve been a little weird, as we already know so much: the characters, the enemies, the stakes. what this new era of Star Wars feels like. We’re not excited about the 15th picture of bearded Luke Skywalker standing around on Skellig Island (or at least we shouldn’t be).

And that’s exactly why it’s nice to hear that we’ll be seeing a lot more of Episode VIII along the way than we did with The Force Awakens. We’re going to need a lot more than Abrams’ tiny teasers to keep us at a fever pitch of excitement between now and December 2017. It’s good to know that Rian Johnson has us covered.

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The Force Is Back In Kerry As Star Wars Crew Returns

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Via Rte.ie:

Having filmed on Sceilg Mhichíl over the past two years, Disney Lucasfilm has now selected Ceann Sibéal at the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula as a location for the next Star Wars movie.

Contractors have already arrived on the Dingle Peninsula and are currently installing a 1.5km metal roadway on the slopes of Ceann Sibéal. It’s understood the roadway will facilitate the transport of gear and crew to the summit for filming on Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is directed by Rian Johnson and will see the return of Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson alongside The Force Awakens co-stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. New cast members include Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran.

The Irish Film Board says it is not in a position to publicly discuss its dealings with individual film companies. However, it’s understood locally that filming will take place over a two-week period in the middle of May. Star Wars: Episode VIII is due for release on December 15, 2017.

Local landowners have entered into access agreements with the film company. A number of hotels and self-catering accommodation have already been booked for the period in question.

Click below to read the full article.

EPISODE 8’S DAISY RIDLEY SAYS ‘LUKE IS SO COOL IN THIS’

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Via Ign.com:

Daisy Ridley is really excited about Star Wars: Episode VIII. Ridley—who plays Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens—says working with Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) on the film has been “amazing.”

“Me and Mark have been rehearsing a lot, and it’s really amazing,” Ridley told MTV News on the Oscars red carpet Sunday. “When we went back to Skellig [Michael, the Irish island used for Luke’s hideaway] to do the opening of [Episode] VIII, it was crazy doing the same scene with a different crew of people.”

She mentioned the film isn’t just two hours of Rey and Luke staring at each other, but she is “very excited to be doing the rest of the stuff.”

“It’s such a good story,” Ridley said. “Seriously. Luke is so cool in this one. Really.”

Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII began filming earlier this year. The film’s official production announcement was released on February 15, implying that the film will begin right where The Force Awakens ended. It was also announced Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, and Kelly Marie Tran have officially joined the cast.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is set to hit theaters on December 15, 2017.

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Star Wars To Be Protected By ‘drone army’ During Episode VIII Filming

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Via Bbc.co.uk:

Drones are going to be used to protect the secrecy of filming for Star Wars: Episode VIII in Croatia next month.

They’ll reportedly be used to intercept other “uninvited” drones which have been sent in to photograph and record scenes from the new movie.
Local website, Mos Croatia, says Disney is also recruiting 600 guards to make sure nobody bothers the actors while they’re filming scenes.
Residents in Dubrovnik have been told that filming will start on 9 March.
In 2014, scenes being filmed for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Greenham Common in London were shot by drones and uploaded to social media.

Motherboard reported that Pinewood had ordered a drone defence shield system to stop leaks on set two years ago.

It would have provided advance warning of helicopters and drones used by paparazzi photographers and media.

But suppliers said that the order never went through because an export application hadn’t been approved in America.

Click below to read the full article.

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Star Wars Episode 8 Working Title Revealed

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Via Gamespot.com:

They might change it.

The working title of Star Wars Episode 8 has been revealed. While it will be some time before we learn of the film’s official name, we now know that it has a temporary title of Space Bear. Carrie Fisher revealed all when she posted the following picture to Twitter:

Space Bear follows in the tradition of strange titles for other Star Wars films during production. The Force Awakens was known as Foodies while it was shooting, and Return of the Jedi was famously filmed under the title of Blue Harvest.

Principal photography on Episode 8 officially began last week. The news was revealed via a short video that showed director Rian Johnson on set with stars Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill. It was also announced that Sicario’s Benicio Del Toro and Jurassic Park star Laura Dern had joined the cast.

The movie is currently shooting in London, and will then move to Croatia for location work. According to Making Star Wars, the Croatian shoot will make use of drones and 600 guards to ensure that the production is kept hidden from the public.

Star Wars Episode 8 arrives in cinemas on December 15, 2017. It also stars Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis.

 

Benicio Del Toro and Laura Dern Join Star Wars: Episode VIII

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Via Wired.com:

WE MAY HAVE to wait a little bit longer for Star Wars: Episode VIII—last month Disney pushed the release date from next spring to December 2017—but that delay only means we’ll have more time to snap up every piece of footage and news Lucasfilm releases.

Today’s tidbit? Episode VIII, which is being directed by Rian Johnson, has added Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran to its cast in as-yet-unknown parts. Del Toro most recently appeared in Denis Villeneuve’s drug-war drama Sicario and also played The Collector in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Dern’s recent highlights include Wild and Mike White’s short-lived but much-beloved HBO series Enlightened. The returning cast also lists Gwendoline Christie and Lupita Nyong’o, so fans of their characters from The Force Awakens need not worry about their uncertain fates.

Along with the casting announcement, Lucasfilm also released a short clip teasing the start of filming for Episode VIII. In the new footage, we see that the first day on set involved shooting scenes that happened right after the closing moments of J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens. (Spoiler alert!) It also has an updated, spaced-out version of a very familiar John Williams theme song, which might be the coolest part.

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